Storytelling is Active Literature!

 

Playing with Words

We all learn best when we are active and attempting the thing we want to learn.  It is no surprise that some of the greatest growth in learning happens when we are having fun in the process.  

Playing with language with preschoolers can be as simple as helping them experience something new and inviting them to tell you about it.  Preschool children, are at a development stage where large motor movement is a big part of their life.  Sitting still is sometimes hard to do.  Scanimation books, like those by author/illustrator Rufus Butler Seder are some of my favorites books for this age - particularly Swing! or Gallop!.  Each page asks a question and has an animation that moves.  Ask the preschooler to show you their moves or tell you their story as your read each page.

For those kids that already very verbal, it is possible to progress to storytelling your way through Wordless Books that you can find at your local library.  What a Masterpiece! by Riccardo Guasco.  Wordless books provide a framework for parents and children to co-operatively tell a story of their own making based upon the illustrations.  You might be surprised at the stories that you will hear as both of your imaginations run free!  As together walk through the pages - it is easy to see how perspectives vary and how much fun can be found together.  The books are new everytime you read them.

If you don't have access to a local library, here is a list of wordless books that are potential candidates for this type of play.

Other Wordless Books available at Lincoln City Libraries

• Meow! by Victoria Ying
• Sign Off by Stephen Savage
• Brave Molly by Brook Boynton Hughes
• Explorers by Matthew Cordell
• Waltz of the Snowflakes by Elly MacKay 
• Mayhem at the Museum by Luciano Lozano
• The Fisherman and the Whale by Jessica Lanan
• Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare

 As children's imaginations really begin to take hold there are other language games that can be a lot of fun to try.  Rory's Story Cubes is a storytelling dice game small enough to be easily added to a purse or tucked into a book bag.  Happy Birthday, Robot! and Do! Pilgrims of the Flying Temple by Evil Hat Games and game designer, Daniel Solis are two of my favorites.  Happy Birthday, Robot! is designed for early elementary age children and Do! Pilgrims of the Flying Temple is meant for later elementary age children.  Both books are cooperative storytelling games that are fun to play and easy to learn.  Each book contains examples of how to play the game and jumping off points explaining how to begin.  The games do anticipate the active participation of an adult or teen leader that is comfortable playing with language.  Both are best played in a small group setting with one or two adults and three to five children.